Hutsell prevails at the 2011 PGA Professional National Championship

HERSHEY, Pa. - David Hutsell of Baltimore, Md., will be the first to declare that good things happen to those who wait and can learn from heartbreak. A decade ago in Sunriver, Ore., Hutsell lost a playoff for a berth in the PGA Championship.

On Wednesday afternoon at Hershey Country Club, locked in the biggest playoff of his professional career in the 44th PGA Professional National Championship, Hutsell drew upon that experience in the great Northwest, caught a break and went on to capture his first national title.

The 40-year-old PGA director of instruction at The Elkridge Club in Baltimore rolled home an eight-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole, the par-4 17th that he had birdied one hour earlier in regulation, defeating Faber Jamerson of Appomattox, Va., and Scott Erdmann of Tigard, Ore., who had bowed out of the playoff one hole earlier. The trio had battled on a sunny, gusty day to an 11-under-par 274 total after regulation in the showcase event for PGA Professionals presented by Club Car and Mercedes-Benz.

"It's my biggest accomplishment in golf by far," said Hutsell, a former college baseball player who had been a member of a golf course maintenance crew before his college, Towson University, formed a golf team. "Golf came to me late in life. To see where I started, and to where I am now, you could not have imagined it 15 years ago. Not a chance."

Hutsell, who led the field in greens in regulation (60 of 72), closed with a 3-under-par 68, which featured four birdies and an eagle to offset two bogeys. He saved par on the 18th hole to open the playoff by chipping from back of the green to within three feet. Erdmann, the third-round leader, and a PGA assistant professional at Oswego Lake Country Club in Lake Oswego, Ore., posted a 72, but dropped out of the playoff after failing to get up and down from a front greenside bunker for par.

"I started out really slow and was fighting myself after bogeying the first few holes," said Erdmann. "I was trying to tell myself to be patient. It was great to get into the experience, to get into the playoff. It was a tough bunker shot and just didn't nip it well."

Jamerson, a PGA general manager at Falling River Country Club in Appomattox, finished with a 70, and nearly curled in a 35-foot birdie putt at 18 to win in regulation. He had a 25-footer in the playoff for a second chance to victory that didn't reach the hole.

Danny Balin of Greenwich, Conn., 29, who finished fourth for the second consecutive year, delivered the finest performance of his career, but it was all too late. Balin turned in a sizzling course record, 8-under-par at 276.

"It was a dream day, and I really can't complain knowing that I played this well and still will be going to the PGA Championship," said Balin, the PGA assistant professional at Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich, whose gem of a round featured an eagle and six birdies. He broke the course mark of 64, and nearly dropped a 30-footer on the 18th green.

Marty Jertson of Phoenix, Ariz., Brad Lardon of College Station, Texas, and Robert McClellan of Butler, Pa., were in a group at 278, and defending Champion Mike Small of Champaign, Ill., who ended with a 72, led a group of three at 279.

Hutsell earned $75,000 from a $550,000 total purse and became the third Middle Atlantic PGA Section Professional to capture the National Championship, following friends Wayne DeFrancesco of Columbia, Md., who triumphed in 2001 and Champion Chip Sullivan of Troutville, Va., who won in 2007 - both titles coming at Crosswater Club in Sunriver.

"I got an email from Chip this morning," said Hutsell, breaking into a big grin. "We played each other in the Section Match Play Championship in April, and he beat me. He said, 'Go out and win this thing, so I can say I beat the National Champion.' Playing in this Championship, you can learn so much about what you need to work on.

"There were a lot of guys struggling out there, and I've been there before with a lot on the line. This golf course wasn't an easy one. When I was in that playoff in 2001, I didn't have my game on Sunday. I didn't make it. You kind of take those experiences and learn from them."

Jamerson saw his opportunity to extend the playoff fade when his tee shot on the 17th hole came to rest at the base of a tree.

"I've been in the PGA program for seven years, and the whole time I wanted to play in the PNC and it's been a goal of mine to play here, to have the opportunity to play in the PGA Championship," said Jamerson. "To earn a spot on the PGA Cup Team, and have a chance to win this week was great. I accomplished all of those things.

"I got a bad break in the playoff, but I hit it there. The ball was four inches from the trunk of the tree and I hit it left-handed, and then faced a 140-yard approach. I tugged it and hit it into no-man's land."

Jamerson pitched from the back of the green in four, then two-putted for double bogey.

Hutsell, who had seen Jamerson's struggles, hit a wedge from the left rough after catching a good lie and hit his wedge approach to eight feet. He then rolled in the decisive birdie putt.

"Faber got an unfortunate break on 17," said Hutsell. "He's a great player and those things will happen. We have played a little golf together over the years and you hate to see that happen to anybody. I got a good break. He has better eyes than me and saw my ball kick out of the grass."

The low 20 scorers advanced to the 93rd PGA Championship, Aug. 8-14, at Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek, Ga.

Hutsell, Jamerson and Erdmann also earned their berths on the U.S. PGA Cup Team, with eight berths decided Wednesday and the remaining two spots - the result of a two-year points system - determined after the PGA Championship. The 25th PGA Cup, the Ryder Cup for the club professional against a similar 10-member team from Great Britain & Ireland, is Sept. 16-18, at CordeValle in San Martin, Calif.

The PGA Professional National Championship is supported by Titleist/FootJoy, Callaway Golf, Nike Golf, TaylorMade-adidas golf/Ashworth and the PGA Tour.

About The PGA of America
Celebrating its 95th year, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission of its founders: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.

By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in a multi-billion dollar golf industry.

By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.

Final Round Results

David Hutsell, Baltimore, Md. 69-70-67-68--274*
Faber Jamerson, Appomattox, Va. 68-67-69-70--274
Scott Erdmann, Tigard, Ore. 65-68-69-72--274
Danny Balin, Rockville, Md. 75-68-70-63--276
Marty Jertson, Phoenix, Ariz. 68-70-70-70--278
Brad Lardon, College Station, Texas 71-69-68-70--278
Robert McClellan, Butler, Pa. 70-68-66-74--278
Jeff Sorenson, Blaine, Minn. 65-68-76-70--279
Mike Small, Champaign, Ill. 67-71-69-72--279
Sean Dougherty, Overland Park, Kan. 67-64-72-76--279
Brian Cairns, Bloomfield, Mich. 68-72-71-70--281
Steve Schneiter, Saratoga Springs, Utah 71-72-70-69--282
Mike Northern, Colorado Springs, Colo. 70-69-74-69--282
Bob Sowards, Dublin, Ohio 70-68-68-76--282
Stuart Smith, Reno, Nev. 68-67-69-78--282
Jeff Coston, Blaine, Wash. 73-67-72-71--283
Rob Moss, Broadview Heights, Ohio 69-71-72-71--283
Craig Stevens, Dallas, Ga. 71-69-70-73--283
Dan Olsen, East Lansing, Mich. 72-67-69-75--283
Craig Thomas, White Plains, N.Y. 71-71-71-71--284
Keith Ohr, Louisville, Ky. 71-68-73-72--284
Jeff Freeman, Windermere, Fla. 72-70-70-72--284
Todd Camplin, West End, N.C. 72-67-70-75--284
Doug Rohrbaugh, Carbondale, Colo. 72-71-71-71--285
Rick Schuller, Chester, Va. 72-71-71-71--285
Stuart Deane, Arlington, Texas 73-68-73-71--285
Chris Starkjohann, Carlsbad, Calif. 71-71-71-72--285
Lonny Alexander, New Braunfels, Texas 66-74-73-72--285
Bob Gaus, St. Louis, Mo. 71-71-70-73--285
Ryan Helminen, Appleton, Wis. 73-69-70-73--285
Chip Johnson, Hingham, Mass. 73-67-70-75--285
Adam Decker, Richmond, Va. 70-73-69-74--286
Sean McCarty, Solon, Iowa 69-72-71-74--286
David Paeglow, Dekalb, Ill. 70-71-71-74--286
Scott Hebert, Traverse City, Mich. 72-68-70-76--286
Jim Estes, Germantown, Md. 68-71-71-76--286
Tim Fleming, Oklahoma City, Okla. 69-71-75-72--287
Cameron Doan, Dallas, Texas 74-68-71-74--287
Darrell Kestner, Glen Cove, N.Y. 68-70-74-75--287
Oliver Peacock, Banner Elk, N.C. 73-69-70-75--287
Steven Gotsche, Great Bend, Kan. 71-67-72-77--287
Jeff Martin, Warwick, R.I. 67-71-71-78--287
Rob Hunt, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 71-71-73-73--288
Chad Proehl, Urbandale, Iowa 74-66-75-73--288
Mike Moses, Garnet Valley, Pa. 73-69-72-74--288
Jason Owen, Marina, Calif. 68-73-72-75--288
Bruce Smith, Frisco, Texas 71-67-74-76--288
Stu Ingraham, Broomall, Pa. 73-70-73-73--289
Kyle Sanders, Wheaton, Ill. 74-69-73-73--289
David Hronek, North Port, Fla. 70-71-74-74--289
Mitch Lowe, San Francisco, Calif. 74-69-70-76--289
Sonny Skinner, Sylvester, Ga. 70-73-72-75--290
Frank Bensel, Purchase, N.Y. 72-71-70-77--290
Scott Ford, Manhasset, N.Y. 73-68-72-77--290
Jeffrey Peck, Charlotte, N.C. 73-69-71-77--290
Rob Labritz, Pound Ridge, N.Y. 70-73-75-73--291
Shawn Koch, Cumming, Ga. 71-72-74-74--291
Eric Cobb, Verona, Va. 71-70-74-76--291
Paul Scaletta, Jupiter, Fla. 72-67-75-77--291
David Tentis, Woodbury, Minn. 71-71-69-80--291
Brett Melton, Washington, Ind. 73-69-80-70--292
Blake Watts, New Albany, Ind. 67-74-77-74--292
Dwayne Randall, Findley Lake, N.Y. 70-72-76-74--292
Perry Arthur, Plano, Texas 73-69-75-75--292
Frank Dully, Salem, Mass. 70-68-79-75--292
John Bushka, Stratford, Conn. 71-69-76-76--292
Blayne Hobbs, Anthem, Ariz. 73-70-72-77--292
Burke Cromer, Irmo, S.C. 75-68-78-72--293
Darin Fisher, Albia, Iowa 73-66-80-74--293
Shane Zywiec, Seward, Neb. 71-72-75-75--293
Bill Sautter, Ocean City, N.J. 69-73-75-76--293
Olly Thomson, Canton, Miss. 72-70-74-77--293
Rick Leibovich, Salinas, Calif. 72-70-73-78--293
Mike Barge, Chanhassen, Minn. 72-71-77-74--294
Christopher D. Johnson, Grand Rapids, Mich. 67-73-78-77--295
Mike O'Toole, Noblesville, Ind. 73-69-77-77--296
John Bierkan, Cockeysville, Md. 73-70-75-78--296
Cleve Coldwater, Clarks Summit, Pa. 71-71-76-78--296
Chris Case, Greenwich, Conn. 69-72-76-79--296
Craig Berner, Scott Depot, W. Va. 68-72-76-80--296
Patrick Vadden, Louisville, Ky. 71-68-77-80--296
Matt Ganshaw, Southside, Ala. 70-73-76-78--297
Tracy Phillips, Tulsa, Okla. 69-73-78-78--298
Ben Bryson, Boise, Idaho 73-70-76-81--300
Dustin Volk, Layton, Utah 70-73-80-78--301

*Won on third playoff hole